gnifke



P. GNIFKE.

CALL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED IULY 16.1911.

1,309,569. Patented July 8, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

M6 72%" 7 1w (half/("e P. GNIFKE.

Patented J uly 8, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

P. GNIFKE.

CALL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED IULY 16, Ian.

1,309,569. Patented July 8, 1919.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

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WW W 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

PAUL G-NIFKE, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO RAILWAY ELECTRICMANUFACTURING 00., 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

CALL-BOX.

Application filed July 16. 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL GNIFKE, a subject of the Emperor of Germany,residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State ofWVisconsin, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inCall-Boxes, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification.

My invention relates to signaling systems and more particularly to callboxes used in step by step signaling systems. My invention is moreparticularly of use in connection with substation selectors such asshown in general in the patent to Lademan, No. 1,120,207, dated December8, 1914, and such as shown more particularly and in a modified form inmy co-pending application Serial No. 180708, filed July 16, 1917. Thestructure shown in the patent to Lademan above cited represents analternating current esc-apement type substation selector in which thestep by step element is arranged to haveresting positions correspondingto each alternation of alternating current.

My invention concerns itself in providing a call box to selectively calla modified sclector of the type shown in the Lademan patent, thismodified form being, set forth in my said c0-pending application. Myimproved modified selector has provision whereby all of the otherstations on the party line may be locked out so that the party calledmay use the line exclusively for telephonic or similar purposes.

My invention herein concerns itself with the provision of a call boxadapted to opcrate such a modified selector through the agency of whichall stations on the line with the exception of the predetermined stationare locked out. In order to carry out my invention I arranged thesubstation selectors in such a way that more than one impulse (or cycleif desired) of the alternati ng current intervenes between eachsucceeding station. Thus it it requires two alternations or one cycle tocall the station No. 1, then the system will be so arranged that itwould require two additional alternations to call station No. 2. Thereis thus an intermediate position of the step by step element, namelythat due to the sending of one additional impulse or alternation whichcan Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 8, 1919.

Serial No. 180.707.

be used to advantage, and this is utilized tor lock out purposes. Thus,if it is desired to call station No. 4, for instance, and lock out allof the remaining stations, then in accordance with the above discussionfour cycles of alternating current are transmitted to the line wherebythe signal at station No. L is operated. If one additional alternatlon(not cycle) of alternating current is transmitted to the line, thisadditional impulse will not be suflicient to have the selector atstation No. 5 respond as it requires one complete cycle to bring theselector at the next following station into operative position, asbefore stated. Thus this additional impulse or alternation sets theselector at the called station into such a condition that thatparticular station has its telephone or other substation equipmentconnected to the line, whereas the intermediate positions occupied bythe selectors at the remaining stations prevent connection oi theirsubstation equipments to the line. If, on the contrary, it is desired tohave all of the substation equipments connected to the line, then thecalling device after having been operated to transmit a call for apredetermined station is continued in its operations so that the step bystep elements at the selectors complete their cycle of movement to theirstarting position, at which time all of the substation talking orsimilar equipments are connected to the line. it being rememberedhowever that the predetermimxd station only has its signaling deviceactuated.

In the particular form of my invention herein I have assumed that twocycles shall intervene between succeeding stations, thus that itrequires two cycles of alternating current to send a call for stationNo. 1, four cycles for station No. 2, and so on. I then use for thelocking out impulses one complete cycle of alternating current, whichunder these circumstances is not suilicient to step up the selector atthe station succeeding the one which has been called. This one cycle ofalternating current can thus be used for the lock out purposes, aspreviously explained.

My invention herein concerns itself particularly with the provision of acalling de vice or call box so arranged that a control element thereofmay be selectively set so that the calling device may transmit therequired impulses to select a predetermined station. The calling devicethen has my improved facilities whereby it may be actuated to transmitautomatically the required additional cycle for lock out purposes.

I will explain this particular form which my invention may take more indetail by referring to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is afront view of a call box construoted in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the call box control element in anintermediate position;

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the cover plate of the call box on which all ofthe operating equipment is mounted;

Fig. 4 is a detail of the impulse sender;

Fig, 5 is a sectional view on line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary View in elevation of the cooperatingelements which restrain the control element of the call box in theposition shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a side view of the cover plate of the call box with theequipment mounted thereon; a

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the calling device in itsneutral zero position, and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of some of the elements shown in Fig. 6.

My improved calling device has its equipmentmounted upon a cover plate10 which is mounted upon the box 11 so that when the cover is closed thegreater proportion of the equipment is accommodated interiorly of thebox for reasons well understood.

This cover plate pivotally carries a shaft 12 extending through saidcover plate, and this shaft carries forwardly of the cover plate aselecting disk 13,]which disk is fixedly mounted to said shaft.Rotatably mounted on said shaft is the spoke l-it provided with thefinger piece 15, which finger piece has the projecting stem 16 adaptedfor insertion into the holes 17 of the disk 13. The spoke 14; alsocarries a tail piece 18 fixedly secured thereto, which tail piececooperates with a contact lever 19 under certain conditions, and whichtail piece likewise has a cutaway portion 20 for purposes which willpresently appear. The disk 13 also carries a lug 2 1, which, when thedisk is in the particular position shown in Fig. v1, cooperates with thecontact control element 19 as will presently appear. The holes arenumbered as shown, and when it is desired to initiate a call for apredetermined station, say station N0. 14, for instance, then. thefinger 16 by manipulation of the finger piece 15 is pulled outwardly andthe spoke l4 rotated so that the finger piece 15 is over the hole No.14, whereupon it is inserted in that hole. The disk 13 together with thethen attached spoke 14, finger piece 15 and tail piece 18 are thenrotated clockwise (Fig. 1) into a given limiting position (whichlimiting position is fixed by having a pin 22 extending downwardly ofthe disk 13,- against the stop 23 projecting upwardly from the coverplate 10). It will be seen that this requires practically a rotation ofthe disk 13 throughout a movement of substantially 360 degrees so thatthe hole marked No. 2 is again to the left of the circuit controlelement 19. After the setting device has been rotated into that positionpreparatory to sending a call the oper ator releases his hold upon thefinger piece 15 and automatic mechanism provided rearwardly of the platerestores the shaft 12 carrying the disk 13 contra-clockwise. Thiscontra-clockwise movement is continued until the knurled finger piece 16engages a toothed stop 24. This stop 24: is pivotally mounted upon astem 25 and retracted by a spring 26. There is a further similarlymounted toothed stop 27 retracted by a. spring 28, this stop 27 beingalso pivotally mounted on a similar stem. Both ,of these stops are inthe path of the knurled finger 16. It will be seen from an inspection ofFig. 2 that the tail piece 18 when it engages the contact controlelement 19 moves it outwardly so that it occupies the position shown inFigs. 1, 2 and 3. In this position the springs 29, 30, 31 and 32 whichare controlled by this element 19 are in a non-circuit closingcondition. These springs are all insulatingly mounted and are actuatedby the element 19 in the customary manner. These springs 29, 30, 31 and32 control the connection of the pivotally mounted pole changing device33 with the line circuitover which the impulses are to be transmitted.The connecting wires leading from this pole changing device have theircontinuity controlled by the springs under the control of the element19. It will thus be understood that after the disk 13 has been moved bythe operator clockwise into the position it initially occupiespreparatory to the transmitting of a signal, the said disk is rotatedcontra-clockwise automatically by mechanism presently to be explained.This automatic movement rotates the disk and dur ing this rotationimpulses are being transmitted to the line circuit by reasouof theoperation of the pole changing device 33 and by reason of the fact thatneither the elements 18 nor 21 are engaging the element 19. The impulsesare sent during the course of this backward rotation of the element 13until the tail piece 18 engages the element 19. During the continuanceof the rotational movement of thedisk 13 no further impulses are beingsent to the line by reason of the disconnection of the line circuit fromthe springs under the control of the element 19.

By referring to Fig. 2 it will be found that the knurled finger piece 16has engaged the stop 24 before the tail piece 18 has had,

time to complete its passage past the control element 19. The selectorswith which this call box cooperates and which are set out fully in thesaid Lademan patentare of such a nature that after the sending ofimstation signal at, the station No. 14. is thus operating during thetime that the tail piece 18 is engaging the element 19. If, now, it isdesired to lock out all of the substations on the line excepting thesubstation 14, then it is necessary to transmit an additional cycle ofalternating current, but no more, and this is accomplished by theoperator rotating the finger piece 15, whereupon the knurled fingerpiece 16 engages the teeth of the element 2 1 with which it is inengagement, thus rotating this pivotally mounted element to a positionwhere it is possible for the finger piece 16 to continue past this stop.The disk 13 together with the elements attached to it then continues torotate contra clockwise until the finger piece engages a stop 27.. Inthe meantime the connection to the line: of the pole changing element 33has been restored due to the cut away portion 20 of the tail piece 18which has permitted the control element 19 to reestablish contactbetween the springs under its control, but only during a period longenough to permit of the transmittin of one complete cycle.

Now, should it be desired to maintain this relation of having all of thesubstations locked out except station No. l lthen no.

further actuation of the disk 13 takes place. The moment theconversation is completed, however, the finger piece 15 is again rotatedto swing the stop 27 out of its path, whereupon the disk 13 continuesits automatic rotation contra-clockwise back to its starting positionwith the projection 22 on the left hand side (Fig. 1) of the stop 23 andwith the lock 21 in position against the control element 19, thusbreaking the connection of the pole changer 33 with the line circuit. Itwill benoted that during this movement of the disk 13 back to itsstarting position, and up until the time that the lock 21 engages thecontrol element 19, the connection between the pole changer and the linecircuit is restored so that impulses are being transmitted over the linecircuit to carry all of the substation step by step elementsaround theircomplete cycle to their initial or starting position.

My invention concerns itself here particularly withthe provision wherebythe calling device is enabled acmu'atcly to send such an impulseorimpulses carefully timed to bring the substation selectors into theirlocked out position and to bring the sub-- station apparatus of thedesired station into its active conditon. o

By referring more particularly to Fig. 3 it will he noted that the shaft12 carries the gear wheel 50 fixedly secured thereto which throughtheintermodiation of the gear wheel 36 and additional gears is associatedwith the shaft 37. This shaft carries a cam 38, which cam by engagingthe arms 39 and -10 of the pole changer 33 causes the oscillation ofthis pole changer, this pole changer being pivotally mounted upon thestud 41. A governor -l2 controls the speed of operation of the device inanswer to the pull of the main spring 13. The shaft 12 carries thelinger ll. which cooperating with the lever 15 accurately positions thezero position of the pole changer. This is done through the agency ofthe toe -16 forming part of the lever 415 which isthrust into the pathof the finger 17 which is carried by the shaft 37. When the shaft 1.2comes back to its zero position the projection l l engages a toe -18,thereby swinging the element +15 clockwise (Fig. 3) into the path of thefinger 4-7. The

-tail piece 18 is continued beyond the cut away portion 20, as shown, sothat the tail :section 4L9 thereof engages the element 1!) during thetime that the finger 16 is against the stop 27.

It will be understood that as the shaft 12 is originally rotated duringthe setting operation of the disk 13 that the spring 13 is wound up andthat it thereupon unwlnds to drive the shaft 12 back into its startingposition, the speed of which rotation is controlled by the governor 42.It will also be understood that during the setting move ment of theelement 13 none of the impulses from the pole changer 33 are transmittedto the line as the pawl 19 rides over the wheel 50 during that operationand by reason of the fact that the wheel 36 which carries this pawl 19is loose upon the shaft 12. lole changer arms 39 and -10 which at thesame time are the contact carrying elements of the pole changer aremounted upon the insulating block 51 which in turn is pivotallysupported upon the stud or shaft 41. This structure consisting of theelements 39, 4-0, and 51 is then oscillated by the cam 38 as said cam isrotated due to its fixed mounting upon the shaft 37.

From what has been thus described the nature of my invention will bereadily apparent to those skilled in the art. Having however thusdescribed one form which my invention may take, what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1.. In a calling device for selective signaling systems the combinationwith an impulse transmitting element, means adapted'to be selectivelyset in accordance with the call for any predetermined station andmovable to control the actuations of said impulsetrans- -mittingelement, astop interposed in the path of movement of said setting meansto arrest. themovement of said setting means at a given position initsmovement, a second stop adapted to arrest said setting means a secondtime, and means to release said setting means from said first aforesaidstop and permit it to travel to the second stop.

2. In a callingdevice for selective signaling systems thecombinationwitli animpulse transmitting element, means including afinger piece adapted to be selectively set in accordance withtlie callfor any predeter mined. station and movable to control the actuations ofsaid: impulse transmitting-element, a stop interposed in the path of:movement of said setting.- means to. arrestthe actuations of said.impulse transmittingele ment, a stop interposed; in thepath of movementof said setting means to arrest the movement of said setting means at a,given, position in its, movement, a second stop adapted to arrest saidsetting means a secondtime, and means; controlled by saidfinger piece torelease said setting means from said first aforesaid stop and permit itto travel to. the second stop.

4. In a calling device for selective signaling systems the combinationwith, an impulse transmitting element, means including a finger pieceadapted to be selectively set in accordance with the call for anypredtermined. station and movable to control the actuations ofsaidiimpulse transmitting element, a stop interposed in the path ofmovement of said setting means to arrest the movement of said settingmeansat a given position in its movement, a second stop adapted toarrest said setting means asecond time, and means controlled, by saidfinger piece, to release said setting means from said first aforesaidstop and permit it to travel to. the second stop, said last aforesaidmeans includ ing interlocking elements between said finger piece andsaid first aforesaid stop.

5.,In a calling device for selective signaling systems, the combinationwith an impulse transmitting element, means adapted to .be selectivelyset in accordance with the call for any predetermined station and mov-l'to arrest the movement of said setting means at a given'positionin itsmovement, a second stop adapted to arrest said settinglmeans a secondtime, means to release said setting means-from said first aforesaid stopand permit it to travel to the second stop, and

additional means movable with said finger piece whereby'thenuinberofeffective im.- pulses transm tted "by" said impulse transthe first stopto the, second are controlled.

6. In a calling device for selective signal ing-system's the combinationwith an impulse transin'i tting -element, means including a finmitting-element during the movei'nent from gel piece adaptedto beselectively set in accordan'ce with the call for any predeterminedstation and movable to control 1 the actuation-s; of said "mi-pulsetransmitting element,

a stop i-iite'r 'a'osed in the path-of movement of I said setting mea nsto arrest the' movement of sa d sett nig means at a' given position inits movement, a second stop adapted to arrest" said settingmeansa=second time, neans to release said setting means from said firstaforesaid stop and permit it to travel to the secondstop, and additionalmeans movable ivitl i saidfi-iiger piece whereby th'eniin1ber ofeffective impulses transmitted by said im piilseztransmitting elementduring the movement fronrtlie first stop to the 'second'are controlled.I

7. In a-ncalling device for selective sigi'i'al ing systems thecombination 'vvithan impulse t. "ansmitting element, means including "a-finger-piece adapted to be-selectively setin accordance 5 With the callfor" any predetermined station and movable-to control the actuations ofsaid impulse' transmitting element, a-stop. interposed'iir the path ofmove ment ofsaid setting: -means' to arrest the movement of said settingmeansgata given" -position. in its movement," a secondI stop adapted toarrest: said' setting means a sec- OIlCl.t1l11G-,;II1BELIIS controlledby said finger picce'to release said setting means from saidfirst;aforesaid?v stop aiid permit it to travel tothegsecondstop,.and'aadditional means movable with said finger piece whereby thenum ber of efl'ective impulsestransmitted loy'said impulsetransmittingelement during the movement from the first stop to the:second are controlled;

calling 1 device for- :selective 1 signal-:

ing systems the'combination with an im"-- pulse. transmitting element,means includ ing-a finger piece-adapted to be selectively l25 setinaccordance Witl thecall foriany' predetermined. station and. movabletow controlthe actuations of said impulsektransmitting element, a stopinterposed: in the path of movement. of said setting: means to arrestthe movement of said setting means at a given position in its movement,a second stop adapted to arrest said setting means a second time, meanscontrolled by said finger piece to release said setting means from saidfirst aforesaid stop and permit it to travel to the second stop, saidlast aforesaid means including inter-locking elements between saidfinger piece and said first aforesaid stop, and additional means movablewith said finger piece whereby the number of efliective impulsestransmitted by said impulse transmitting element during the movementfrom the first stop to the second are controlled.

9. In a calling device for selective signaling systems the combinationwith an im pulse transmitting element, means including a movable fingerpiece adapted to be selectively set in accordance with the call for anypredetermined station, and movable to control the actuations of saidimpulse transmitting element, and means controlled by said finger piecefor arresting the movement of said first aforesaid means at twopositions during its signal impulse transmitting movement.

10. In a calling device for selective signaling systems the combinationwith an impulse transmitting element, means adapted to be selectivelyset in accordance with a call for any predetermined station and movableto control the actuations of said impulse transmitting element, saidmeans having a plurality of control positions spaced to represent two ormore impulses respectively of said impulse transmitting element, eachcontrol position representing a call for a given substation, and meanswhereby said impulse transmitting element is actuated to send a lessnumber of impulses than those represented by the spacings betweensaidcontrol positions.

11. A calling device for selective signaling systems having an impulsetransmitting element, means adapted to be selectively set in accordancewith a call for any predetermined station to control the actuations ofsaid impulse transmitting element, said means having a plurality ofcontrol positions spaced to represent two or more impulses respectivelyof said impulse transmitting element, each control position representinga call for a given station, and means for t 'ansmitting a differentnumber of impulses than those represented by the spacings between. saidcontrol positions.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 28th day of June,A. D. 1917.

PAUL GNIFKE.

Witnesses:

CARL F. VnEoK, I-IUco J. VON Rom.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

